Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks again, Senator Sheldon. The Albanese government is investing in projects that will deliver jobs and opportunities to communities that actually need them, regardless of what colour they are on the spreadsheet. One of the biggest infrastructure projects in the country right now is Western Sydney airport. It will support almost 28,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2031, five years after the airport opens in 2026. Importantly, these benefits and this opportunity will flow to local residents in Western Sydney, with at least 30 per cent of jobs during the construction phase having to come from local residents. When the airport opens, this will increase to a minimum of 50 per cent, and the Albanese government's Skills Guarantee means that 10 per cent of workers on Commonwealth funded infrastructure major projects will be an apprentice, a trainee or a paid cadet.

Communities across New South Wales are sick of spending that is focused only on the political advantage of the government of the day. Working with a Minns Labor government will focus on the enabling infrastructure to deliver the greatest benefits to communities across Western Sydney.